Just about every backyard chicken keeper has seasoned it: in the future, your hens are laying reliably, and another, the nesting packing containers are mysteriously vacant. Based on Gail Damerow, renowned poultry specialist and writer of Storey’s Guidebook to Elevating Chickens, this egg-laying pause is usually not a mystery in any respect. You can find obvious, normal motives hens end laying, and comprehension them can assist you assist your flock and restore productivity. Listed here are Damerow’s leading 5 good reasons hens end laying—and what you can do about them.

one. Molting: A Pure Pause
As Damerow describes, molting is really a annually function inside a hen’s life, ordinarily taking place in late summer time to early tumble. For the duration of this time, hens shed and regrow feathers—a process that requires a tremendous quantity of Electrical power and protein. Egg creation frequently stops through this period, as being the hen's entire body focuses solely on feather regeneration.

What You Can Do: Guidance your hens having a significant-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Steer clear of stressing the flock and Permit mother nature get its study course. Once the molt is comprehensive, egg-laying should really progressively resume.

two. Shortened Daylight Several hours
Light exposure plays an important job in stimulating a hen’s reproductive method. Damerow factors out that hens will need fourteen–sixteen hours of daylight for constant laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and Winter season months, so does egg generation.

What You are able to do: Think about including a light-weight supply while in the coop which has a timer to simulate natural daylight. A reduced-wattage bulb turning on inside the early morning can securely lengthen "daylight" and assist Winter season laying. Keep away from sudden lighting adjustments That may anxiety your birds.

3. Bad Nutrition
Nutrition is foundational to egg production. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet missing in protein, calcium, or necessary natural vitamins may lead to less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, although entertaining, can dilute the balanced nourishment supplied by industrial layer feed.

What You Can Do: Be certain your flock has regular use of large-high quality layer feed, clean h2o, and calcium health supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to not more than 10% in their day-to-day diet program.

four. Pressure and Environmental Aspects
Stress is An important contributor to reduced egg production. As outlined by Damerow, stressors can incorporate predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Intense temperatures, or simply relocating the coop. Hens are delicate to change and might react by halting egg generation.

What You are able to do: Produce a quiet, Risk-free environment in your birds. Preserve reliable routines, offer sufficient House, and deal with resources of worry including loud noises or intense flockmates.

five. Age and Health Issues
Damerow reminds us that laying isn't really a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start out laying close to five–six months of age, peak at about one–two many years, then gradually slow down. Disease, parasites, and reproductive difficulties can also interfere with laying.

What You Can Do: Keep watch over your hens’ Total health and fitness. Perform normal parasite checks, sustain a clear coop, and talk to a vet if you notice signs of illness. Older hens may still be valuable members from the flock even when their laying days are behind them.

Final Thoughts
As Gail Damerow often says, “Chickens don’t just stop laying for no Fun88 Casino reason.” If your hens have a split, it’s their means of signaling that anything within their surroundings or biology has shifted. With a little bit of observation, great care, plus some endurance, you can assist guidebook your flock back to balanced egg generation—or just respect the natural rhythms in their lives.